Mail and parcel pipe-express



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

AQD.MO0RE. MAIL AND PARGEL PIPE EXPRESS.

No. 542,682. Patented Ju1y16, 1395.

Elm

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.- A. D MOORE.

MAIL AND PARCEL PIPE EXPRESS.

No. 542,682. Patented July 16, 1895.

(No Model.) Q 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. D. MOORE.

MAIL AND PARCEL PIPE EXPRESS. No. 542,682. Patented July 16, 1895.

or without its receptacle.

Nrrnn STATES .P N OFFrcE;

ALEXANDER DAVIS MOORE, OF MOORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL AND PA'RGEL Pl PE-EXPRESS.

.iPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 542,682, dated July16, 1895.

Application filed J l 19, 1894- Serial No. 518,059. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it mag concern.-

Be it. known that I, ALEXANDER DAVIS MOORE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Moore, in the county of Delaware and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful machine or mechanismentitled Mail and Parcel Pipe-Express, of which the following is aspecification. I

The objects of my improvements are, first, to providea method oftransportation through conduits or ordinary metal pipes laidundenground, by which mail or express packages may be carried in largequantities from place to place, as from the principal office tosub-stations or to railroad stations without the delay attending the useof wagons in crowded thoroughfares, and, secondly, to accomplish this ata fair rateof speed and ata comparatively low cost by simple mechanicalappliances and by the expenditure of an ordinary amount of power. Iattain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdraw.- ings, in Which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of thecarriages employed for traveling through the conduit or pipes andconveying letters or goods, the carriage being provided with a revolvingcradle which is represented as empty View of the carriage whenloaded--that is, with its receptacle secured in place in the revolvingcradle, the carriage being represented as in a curved portion of theconduit or pipe, which is shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is aperspective View of one of the dummycarriages or dummies used merely forfilling up the line between the carriages proper. Fig.4 is across-section of the conduitor pipe with one of the carriages inposition therein. Fig. 5 is a side view of the conduit or pipe at one ofthe stations, showing one of the carriages in position to be loaded orunloaded. Fig.6 is a vertical sectional View of the powerstation,showing the driving-wheel and the belt-compress and the carriages inpositionon the wheel and in the open pipes leading to and from thewheel; Fig. 7, a detail view in perspective of the pulley-slide fortightening the compress, showing also the transverse rods on thecompress-belt; Fig. 8, a plan of the opposite terminal where the conduitor pipes are preferably arranged in semicircle,

carriage.

Fig. 2 is a similar.

around which the carriages pass on their re turn trip, and adjoiningwhich are the open pipes or stations where the carriages may be loadedor unloaded. Fig. 9 is a perspective View of a swivel dummy used forshortening or lengthening the train. Fig. 10 is a side view of one ofthe coupling-rods. Fig. 11 is a ,broken sectional view of one end of thecarriage, showing how the axle upon which the cradlerevolves is fastenedto the head of the Fig. 12 is a broken sectional view of a portion ofthe rim of the cradle. Fig. 13 isa perspective view of the cradledetached from the carriage. Fig. 14 is a perspective view of thereceptacle or can which fits within the cradle, the lid being removed.Fig. 15 is an elevation of portion of the face of the driving-wheel,showing a carriage in position in the groove and under the belt andcrossrod of the cog-wheel compress.

. Similar letters refer to similar parts th roughout the several views.

Thegeneral plan, which is too extended to be represented in a singleview, comprises a continuous line of carriages of circular form,lightly. but strongly constructed, closely coupled, and running onrollers. These carriages after passing over a driving-wheel leave thepower-station by one conduit or pipe, and after traversing theintervening distance underground, reach the opposite terminal, passaround the semi-circle there and return to the power-station by anotherconduit or pipe. From station to station the conduits or two lines ofpipe are preferably laid side by side, although they may be otherwisearranged it' necessary or desirable.

In Fig.1 the heads A A of the carriages are preferably made of castmetal in open work and circular in form. Set into recesses at equaldistances apart in the periphery of the heads are four rollers B,journaled in bearings "in lugs Mat the sides of the recesses and castwith the heads. The broad portion of these rollers, as shown, is curvedto conform to the interior surface of the conduit, and the rollersproject sufficiently far from the periphery of the heads to prevent anyprojecting rollers, are to be Within a fraction of the same diameter asthe interior of the conduit in order to properly guide the carriages intheir travels and prevent unnecessary play. Between the heads A A arecircular heads 0 O of a revolving cradle D, which turns on a pivot oraxle, having a strong head E. This axle projects from the center of thecarriage-head A and terminates in a ring G. The heads of this cradle areof light iron work, and, as shown, are connected by four light rods F,which have shoulders where they abut against the inside of the heads andare riveted in sunken'holes on the outside. (See Fig. 12.) The heads ofthe cradle are of smaller diameter than the heads of the earriage, sothat the cradle will not come in contact with the interior of theconduit in passing around curves. The abruptness of the curves in theconduit is limited by the distance of the rods F from the outer line ofthe rollers B.

Each carriage is provided'with a receptacle or can H, preferably ofcylindrical shape, corresponding to the size of the cradle, and having aremovable cover for top at one end. These cans hold the letters orarticles to be conveyed. In Fig. 2 the'can H is represented in positionin the cradle and is secured in place therein in any suitable manner, asby two short chains 1, fastened to the upper rods .F of the cradle andmeeting in the center ployed, or a light red can be hinged to one headand shut down in a clasp at the other. The receptacle or can is placedin a revolving cradle, so that if the carriage, in its passage aroundthe driving-wheel or through the conduit, and around the curves shouldturn over and finally appear at its destination upside down, it can beeasily turned to its proper position, and by means of small rings J Jthe can with its contents can be removed. In some instances thereceptacle or can may be permanently secured within the cradle, of thecarriage, and in such cases the upper side of the receptacle is open andprovided with a hinged cover, by opening which access may be had to theinterior. A carriage providedwith a receptacle of this character isespecially serviceable for transporting pareels andother comparativelylarge articles.

Attached to the ring G of the carriage is a coupling-rod K, which joinsone carriage to the one following, being preferably of about one-halfthe length of the carriage. It is proone or both of which revolve onswivels 1n, so as to allow the carriages to turn freely without twistingthe coupling-rods. The snaphooksfit. closely in the rings G to preventplay.

As in a circuit of a mile or more long it is not necessary to provideeach carriage with a receptacle or can, the intervening spaces arefilled up and the endless train completed with carriages of thelightest, cheapest form, which may be designated dummycarriages or -tionin the conduit or pipe'O.

dummies. Fig. 3 shows such a dummy, in

which the heads A are substantially the same as the heads of the regularcarriages shown in Figs. 1 and 2,but instead of having a cradle and areceptacle therein, the heads are simply connected by a rod M,passingthrough the center of the heads and having shoulders N on the inside. ofthe heads and a ring-nut G screwed on the end of the rod outside, theend of the screw being slightly riveted or nicked to prevent thering-nut from turning off. The heads are thus securely held in position.As stated, the heads of the dummies being exactly the same as the headsof the regular carriages, the dummies are readily convertible intocarriages when needed, and as the coupling-rods have snap-hooks, a dummycan easily be detached and removed from the train and a carriage with areceptacle or can substituted therefor.

As neither the dummies nor the couplingrods have to be of an exactlength, but may be a little shorter or longer when so desired, in makingup the line (in the beginningla few of' the coupling-rods may be soshortened or lengthened as to make the line exactly compass the circuit;but after this is done, in order to tighten the line, if it should wearloose, or in order tol'oosen it, if deemed too tight, an adjustabledummy, as shown in Fig.

9, is'provided, which, instead of having a simple rod passing throughfrom head to head,

has a strongly-constructed turnbuckle n placed upon the screw-threadedends of rod p, by which the heads of the dummy can be I drawn nearertogether or separated at will;

and then, to provide against any incidental contraction by cold oraccidental strain these dummies are preferably provided with strongspiral spring couplers q, instead of rigid coupling-rods. One of thesespring-couplers should be in each half of a circuit.

Fig. 4 shows the head of a carriage in posi- It will be seen that thehead A, with its rollers 13, is nearly of the same diameter the interiorof pipe, there being but a small space at the top.

'Only the rollers come in contact with the pipe, while the periphery ofthe head is kept away. By decreasing the diameter of the head theperiphery will be kept'still farther I from the pipe, but the diameteror capacity that they are of the proper diameter inside, vided at bothends with strong snap-hooks L,

and that they are so joined together as to present a smooth surface forthe rollers to pass As setting forth one of the objects of theinvention-namely, to transmit large quantities of mail or othermatter-it may be said that a pipe two feet in diameter would be suitablefor a carriage with a receptacle or can holding about two bushels,although the size of the receptacle will of course vary according tocircumstances. It will also be seen in Fig.

l'lO

over. There is no limit to the size of the pipe.

i I v .from of the receptacles or cans.

4 that the weight of the carriage rests on the two lower rollers.Sometimes it is mainly on one. As the rollers follow no prescribed path,and as they are of the same curve as the interior of the conduit orpipe, there will be little wear and no ruts.

In Fig. 2 the carriage is represented as in a curved section oftheconduit or pipe.

In Fig. 5 is exhibited a carriage in an open pipe Q, where the carriagesare loaded or unloaded by the insertion or removal there- These pipesare found at the terminals or at intermediate stations along the route.They have the same diameter as the closed pipes 0, but with aboutone-thirdofthe upper portion removed. This portion cut out (or left outin casting) is covered with ahinged lid R, which is to be opened for theremoval or insertion of goods and closed down when the carriages are inmotion. The aperture is to be of sufficient width to allow thereceptacle or can to be taken out or replaced, and to be as long as thenumber of carriages'would require orthe depth of the building wouldallow, may be suitably ing to and from the wheel in the open pipes Q Q.The driving-wheel S has the dimensions of a broad-faced fiy-wheel. Inthe drawings it is represented with its shaft about on a line with thefirst floor t of the power-station, the lower half being in thebasement.

On its face is a semicircular groove g, Fig. 15,

in which the carriages are about half embedded and in which they fitloosely. The dimensions of the face correspond substantially with thediameter of the conduit or pipe employed. The wheel is so large or hassolong a curve that when the carriages are upon it the lowermost rods F ofthe cradles D do not touch the bottom of the groove g. The groove mustbe so large that the rollers will not pre vent the heads from resting onthe bottom of the groove, which is flat, (not following the regularcurve of the sides,) so that the periphery of the heads of the carriagesmay rest upon it and cling to it when the carriages happen so to rollupon it from the pipes. This bottom is preferably formed of hard woodlaid crosswise, and in it at intervals are transverse curved depressionsh,in which the heads of the carriages or the rollers may sink and be themore firmly held onto the wheel. These depressions are both shallow andcurved, so that when the carriage is delivered to the wheel from theconduit or pipe the initial head of the carriage can creep forward, whenthe following head seemingly falls into place on the wheel.

driving-wheel. They enter the front of the building from under theground, and the upper one gradually ascends from the floor-until itreaches the top of the Wheel, while the lower one gradually descendsuntil it reaches the bottom of the wheel, the pipes being suitablysupported. Near the driving-wheel the pipes are closed or circular, asat O O, and their ends are slightly expanded or trumpetshaped, so thatthe carriages may have full room for entering the pipe. The bottom ofthe upper pipe is extended into a projecting lip Z, curving downward andapproaching as close to the bottom of the groove in the wheel aspossible, so as to properly guide the carriages to the wheel from thepipe; and from the bottom of the .lower pipe is a longer projecting lipZ, which passes under the wheel to guide the carriages therefrom to thepipe, so that if there should be any loosening or slack in the trainwhen the carriages leave the compress they would be properly guided intothe pipe. It is at this point that the coupling-rods K K, fittingclosely in the rings G of the carriages, keep the carriages apart ifthere is any disposition to crowd.

As seen in Figs. G and 15, the farther sides of the semicircular grooveg are extended into cogs, forming cog-wheels V V around the wheel. Thesecog-Wheels are used in the working of the compress T, which consists ofan endless bellIW of the width of the circular groove of thedriving-wheel and long enough to extend partly around the latter andover the three pulleys X Y Y. Fastened to the outer side of this belttransversely, at equal distances apart, are rods 22, which projectbeyond the sides of the belt and fit into the cog-wheels V V, and whenthe driving-wheel turns it carries the belt positively with it. The beltis padded between the cross-rods, and the spaces between the cogs aresunk just so deepthat the belt presses upon the heads of the carriages,and, with the aid of the cross-rods and the depressions in the bottom ofthe groove 9, holds the carriages tightly in their place until they passout from beneath the compress. At leastthree of the carriages are underthe compress at the same time, while two or three other carriages are onthe wheel, but not under the compress. The pulley X is set in a slide a,adjustable by .a screw a, by which means the belt may be tightened andthe pressure on the carriages increased, as shown more clearly in Fig.7.

At U, in Fig. 6, is seen an auxiliary cogwheel compress. This cog-wheelcompress is of the same width as the driving-wheel S, and

is provided at the sides with teeth or cogwheels (see dotted lines, Fig.6), adapted to engage with the teeth or cog-wheels V, so that theauxiliary compress will be positively driven by the wheel S.

auxiliary compress is of leather padding, which extends out beyond theline of the teeth or cogs and at the point of contact with thedriving-wheel presses against the intermedi- The face U of the IEO atebelt-compress and holds still more firmly in their place the carriagesas they come under its pressure. This auxiliary compress is supported ina movable slide j, adjustable by means of a screw j, as shown in Fig. 6,so that its pressure can be increased or lessened.

Power is communicated to the driving-wheel at its shaft, and while thecarriages are best delivered to the wheel by going over the top andpassing out from beneath, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 6, thedriving-wheel is so constructed that it may be turned either way and thecarriages sent backward or forward.

In Fig. 7 is seen in perspective the pulleyslide a,in which is placedthe pulleyX. The screw a, which .is set in the frame 0, passes throughthe yoke d. Byturning this screw the belt-compress is tightened and thepressure 011 the carriages in the groove of the drum increased.

Fig. 8 is a plan of the opposite terminal consisting, preferably, ofcurved pipes P P, laid in a semicircle, connected with straight openpipes Q Q, in which are seen the carriages at rest. The curve of thesemicircle must be sufficieutly long to allow the carriages to passaround without any part touching the pipe except the rollers. While thecurved pipes of the semicircle are preferably closed the straight pipes(supposed to be at the stations or sides of a room) are open, so thatthe mail or parcels may be placed inthe carriages or taken from them.

The line of carriages and dummies is ordinarily so formed that when theopen pipes adjoining the driving-wheel at the main station are filledwith carriages the open pipes at the opposite terminal will also befilled, and that when the carriages from the said wheel reach the saidterminal the carriages from the terminal will be at the drivingwheel. Ifthe line is long enough to admit of an intermediate station exactly halfway, through which the pipes may loeoarried, the open pipes there willalways be filled with carriages when the open pipes at the powerstationand terminal are filled.

4 -.I claim- 1. In a mail and parcel express, the combination of arailless conduit consisting of two branches connected at one end by acontinu-.

ous curve, a driving wheel at the opposite end, and an endless train ofconnected carriages free to turnaxially Within the conduit and passingover said wheel, substantially as described.

2. In a mail and parcel express, the combination of a railless conduitconsisting of two branches connected at one end by a continuous curve, adriving wheel at the other end, the terminal portions of the conduitadjacent to the wheel being enlarged, lips extending from the bottoms ofsaid enlarged portions to the wheel to form guides for the entrance tothe conduit, and a series of connected carriages free to turn axiallywithin the conduit and passing around the wheel, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a mail and parcel express, thecombination with the conduit, thedriving wheel, and a series of connected carriages arranged within theconduit and over said wheel, of an endless belt compress extending in acurved line around part of the periphery of said wheel and bearing uponthe carriages thereon, substantially as described.

4. In a mail and parcel express, the combination with the conduit, thedriving wheel, and a series of connected carriages passing through theconduit and over said wheel, of an endless belt compress extendingiu acurved line round part of the periphery of said wheel,

and bearing upon the carriages thereon, and

adapted to be driven positively by engagement with said wheel, and meansfor tightenin g the compress to press the carriages against said wheel,substantially as described.

5. In a mail and parcel express, the combination with the conduit, thedriving wheel having a peripheral groove and gear teeth at the sides,and a series of connected can riages passing through the conduit andover said wheel, of an endless belt compress extending partly around thewheel and in contact with the carriages thereon, cross-bars on thecompress in position to engage said gear teeth, and means for tighteningthe compress to press the carriages against the wheel,substantially asdescribed. p

6. In a mail and parcel express, the combi nation with the conduit, thedriving wheel, and a series of connected carriages passing through theconduit and over said Wheel, of an endless belt compress extendingpartly around said wheel in contact with the carriages thereon, anauxiliary compress, and connections substantially as described wherebysaid endless belt compress and auxiliary compress are positively drivenby said driving wheel, as set forth.

7. In a mail and parcel express, the combination with the conduit, thedriving wheel havingaperipheral groove and gear teeth at the sides, anda series of connected carriages passing through the conduit and oversaid wheel, of an endless belt compress extending partly around thewheel and in contact with the carriages thereon, a series of cross barson the belt in position to engage said teeth, an auxiliary compresshaving a padded periphery and cog teeth at the sides adapted to engagethe teeth on the driving wheel, and

means for tightening said belt and for adjusting the auxiliary compress,substantially as described.

8. In a mail and parcel express, the combination with a conduit having acurve at one end and a driving wheel at the other, the periphery of thewheel having a semi-circular groove therein,-the bottom of said groovebeing provided with depressions, and the side Walls of the groove beingformed into gear teeth, a compress around the periphery of the wheelopposite the ends of the conduit, cross bars on the compress fittingbetween the gear teeth, and a series of connected carriages in theconduit and around the wheel, the ends of which fit within thedepressions in the bottom of said groove and are held therein by thecompress. substantially as described.

9. In a mail and parcel express, the combination of a cylindricalrailless conduit, a driving wheel, and a series of carriages free toturn axially within the conduit, and each having two heads of lessdiameter than the interior diametenof the conduit, rollers carried bysaid heads and projecting beyond the latter, and means for connectingthe carriages into a train, substantially as described.

'10. In a mail and parcel express, the combination with a cylindricalrailless conduit, of a driving wheel at one end thereof, a series ofcarriages free to turn axially within the conduit, and each having twocircular heads provided with axles, a cradle pivotally secured betweenthe heads upon said axles, the ends of the cradle being of a lessdiameter than the diameter of the heads of the carriage, rollersjournaled in the periphery of the carriage, a can within the cradle, andmeans for connecting the carriages into a train, substantially asdescribed.

11. In a mail and parcel express, the combination with a cylindricalconduit, of a driving wheel at one end thereof, a series of carriageswithin the conduit and around the wheel, the heads of each carriagebeing circular and provided with peripheral rollers, a cradle withineach carriage, the ends of which are of a less diameter than thediameter of the heads of the carriage, an axlethrough each of the endsof the carriage and the cradle, a ring upon the outer end of each axle,a can within the cradle, anda series of rods each having a snap-hook atits end for engaging with the ring of the axle to join the carriagestogether, one of the hooks being swivelcd, substantially as described.

12. In a mail and parcel express, the combination with a cylindricalconduit, of a driving wheel at one end, a series of carriages withintheconduit and around the wheel, the heads of each carriage beingcircular and provided with rollers, a cradle within each carriage, theends of which are of a less diameterthan the heads of the carriage andare joined together by means of rods, a can within the cradle, rings onthe can for manipulating it, chains upon the rods of the cradlethe endsof which are adapted to be secured together above the can to hold it inplace, and rods for securing the carriages together, substantially asdescribed.

13. In a mail and parcel express, the combination with a raillessconduit, of adriving wheel, at one end thereof, a series of carriagesand dummies free to turn axially within the conduit, and swivelcd rodsfor detachably connecting the carriages and dummies together, one of thedummies having a turnbuckle between its two end portions, and having acoupling rod with a spring in the line thereof, substantially asdescribed.

14. The combination in a carriage of the character described of twoheads having peripheral rollers, a cradle pivotally mounted to turnbetween the heads, and a receptacle within the cradle, substantially asdescribed.

15. The combination in a carriage of the character described, of twocircular heads having peripheral rollers,a cradle pivotally mounted toturn between the heads, a receptacle detachably supported within thecradle,

